Bring hooligans infiltrating peaceful protests to court, CJ Koome tells police

Chief Justice Martha Koome has called for a delicate balance that must be maintained between the constitutional right to peaceful assembly and protests and the imperative of people-centred, professional policing.

Speaking in the wake of the recent protests sparked by the killing in police custody of teacher-cum-blogger Albert Omondi Ojwang, the first anniversary of last year year’s Gen Z revolt against the Finance Bill and the 35th Saba Saba anniversary on Monday, Koome noted that in recent times, Kenya and her democratic fabric have come under strain through waves of public protests.

However, she noted that members of the public must exercise their rights to protest peacefully without carrying arms and without engaging in acts of destruction, looting or vandalism of public infrastructure such as government buildings, court infrastructure and even private businesses.

The CJ was speaking during the swearing-in ceremony of Abdullah Kassim as member of the National Heroes Council and Peris Muthoni Kimani, Benjamin Juma Imai and Prof Collete Suda as members of the National Police Service Commission.

“It is very painful even for a citizen to lose their property which they have worked hard to put together. On the  other hand, the police must respond with restraint, proportionality and strict adherence to human rights standards and avoid actions that would cause unnecessary harm or loss of life,” she said.

“It is also incumbent upon the police to distinguish between peaceful demonstrators and criminal elements. Those who infiltrate protests to incite violence and loot and apprehend and process such individuals through our justice system,” she added.

The CJ spoke a day after Saba Saba demos left at least 11 dead and 63 injured barely a week after another at least 16 others were killed during the Gen Z anniversary.